The world famous Cab Calloway Orchestra welcomes
you to its official internet home.

The place to get a more HI DE HO! in your life!

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The Firefly Festival Presents:

THE CAB CALLOWAY
ORCHESTRA

DIRECTED BY CAB’S
GRANDSON,

CALLOWAY BROOKS

Saturday, June 15

Smooth shiny
instruments all in a row, red-hot lyrics, silky smooth ensemble work, spicy
brass harmonies,a joyful audience bouncing and swaying to irresistible rhythms,
and the sound of “Hi Di Ho!” filling theaters on cue: These have been the
classic trademarks of concerts by The Cab Calloway Orchestra ever since the
1920s. They are the ingredients that made the orchestra a hit when it played the
Palais Royale in downtown South Bend in 1939, and it’s the same mix that gives
the group its energy and popularity today. These days, under the baton of Cab’s
grandson, Calloway Brooks, the Orchestra delivers the same sizzling jazz sound
and snazzy stage style, producing the jump, blues, and boogie sounds of “swing
that is king and jive that’s alive.” The band, some of whose amazing musicians
have played with the group for decades, uses original vintage orchestrations as
a point of departure, creating an authentic brand of hot Cotton Club-style music
and hijinks.

Growing up in a
musical family, Orchestra Director Calloway Brooks had the advantages of both
nature and nurture. He started playing guitar at age seven, won his first awards
at the advanced age of nine, and later graduated from the prestigious New
England Conservatory of Music. He says that the many years of experience with
his famous grandfather were a cornerstone of his musical education. It’s not
surprising that Brooks has appeared with a veritable “Who’s Who” of jazz and big
band orchestras and stars, or that he performs at venues ranging from the
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center to the
Rome Opera House. The Firefly Festival is pleased to welcome Brooks and the
high-spirited Cab Calloway Orchestra to Michigan to kick off the 22nd annual
season.

Attention Venues! Here's a sample of a press
release we like.

Throw
on your zoot suit and get ready to sing those "Hi-de-Ho's"
with Minnie the Moocher because the Cab Calloway Orchestra is coming to
Nazareth College's Arts Center on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. Cab Calloway was a
native of Rochester who made "Hi-De-Ho" famous. Now, Cab's
grandson, Calloway Brooks (Prince of the Hi-De-Ho), is keeping the
tradition alive. You'll be transported back to the golden age at the
Cotton Club when Cab Calloway himself made Harlem the hot spot of New
York City nightlife. This special event is part of Coldrush 2002
presented by the Rochester Visitors Association. Tickets are $32
dollars. For tickets and more information, call (585) 389-2170.

The Cab Calloway Orchestra is now under the baton of Cab's grandson,
C. Calloway Brooks. The Calloway family has been dazzling audiences
since the1920s, and this year is no exception. Using the Calloway band's
original vintage orchestrations as a starting point, coupled with the
awesome musicians who have played with this big band for decades, The
Cab Calloway Orchestra brings Harlem jazz to life.

The orchestra has earned rave reviews that live up to its famous
name. "Brooks maintained his brilliant level of performance to the
end," said The Boston Globe. Some of the Calloway Orchestra
favorites include "Minnie the Moocher (Hi-De-Ho),"
"Stormy Weather," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and
"Geechie Joe."

Cab Calloway was born in Rochester in 1907, but the "Hi-De-Ho
King" received most of his early education in Baltimore. He
attended The Crane School in Chicago before taking a job as singer and
bandleader in an area nightclub. His success brought him to New York
City where he was signed to headline Harlem's legendary Cotton Club.
After a decade at the helm in Harlem, Calloway enjoyed a recording and
touring career that continued until his death in 1994.

Cab Calloway passed on his love of music and his beloved orchestra to
his grandson. C. Calloway Brooks started playing guitar at age seven,
won his first musical awards at age nine, and went on to graduate from
the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. He credits the many
years of experience with his grandfather as the cornerstone of his
musical education. Brooks has performed at all sorts of venues including
The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, and The Rome
Opera House.